September 11, 2024 Via Electronic Mail
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
100 Gregory Lane
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
CONSULTING SERVICES PROPOSAL
HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
Dear Mr. Fujimoto:
Thank you for inviting RSG, Inc. (“RSG”) to submit a proposal to assist the City of Pleasant Hill (“City”) with implementing Housing Element programs.
The following table presents a menu of options for implementing Housing Element programs with an estimated timeline and budget for completion. Depending on the options chosen, completion times may change based on staffing availability. Once the city has chosen the options they would like to undertake, a final timeline and budget will be developed.
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 3, 2024
Implementation Program RSG Role HE Timeframe Estimated
Cost
V. Funding to Support Affordable Housing
The City shall seek State and Federal funds, and
encourage the use of private financing mechanisms, to
assist in the production of affordable housing, including housing affordable to extremely low-income
households. Funding mechanisms that should
continue to be explored include the HCD Multifamily
Housing Program, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
(LIHTC), federally subsidized Section 221 (d)(4),
Section 8 or Section 202 programs, Community
Development Block Grants, tax-exempt bond
financing, Federal HOME program funds,
administrative fees collected by the County Housing
Authority, and favorable financing made available
through financial institutions, to assist low- and
moderate-income households. The City shall partner
with developers and non-profit agencies to apply for
State and Federal monies for direct support of lowincome housing construction and rehabilitation, with preference for affordable projects in higher resource
areas. The City shall assess potential funding
sources annually throughout the planning period
and shall promote the benefits of this program to
the development community by posting
information on its website and creating a handout
to be distributed with land development
applications
Assess available funding sources
(State, Federal, private, local)
Draft informational handout to be
posted on City website and distributed
with land development applications
Note: City will be responsible for
preparing City website and distributing
materials with land development
applications
Annually
between 2023-
2031
$2,400
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
Implementation Program RSG Role HE Timeframe Estimated
Cost
Z. Housing Trust Fund
The City shall continue to use monies in the Housing
Trust Fund to assist in the development of affordable
housing, with preference for those in higher resource
areas, as well as for community revitalization efforts in low- and moderate-resource areas and areas with
higher concentration of lower-income households,
including census tracts 321200, 324001, and 325000.
Revenue for the trust fund comes from “in- lieu” fees
provided from the inclusionary unit ordinance. The
potential uses of these funds include: land acquisition for below market rate housing, buy-downs on
mortgages for purchasers of below market rate units,
capital improvements to below market rate housing,
fee waivers, loans, and deferrals, etc.
Annual outreach to developers and other nonprofit
housing agencies
Prepare regional developer and nonprofit housing agency distribution list Distribute handout from Program V that
includes information about the City
Housing Trust Fund via e-mail
Note: City will be responsible for any
paper mailings and postage
Ongoing
(Annually)
$900
NN. Rehabilitation Needs Assessment
The City shall monitor housing conditions through
neighborhood surveys and as part of code
enforcement and building inspection activities. The
City shall compile and annually update a list of funding and resources for residential rehabilitation and, when
housing units in need of repair are identified, will
Compile funding sources for residential
rehabilitation
Identify low and moderate resources
areas and areas
Annually $2,400
Optional
Webinar
$2,300
($4,700 total)
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
Implementation Program RSG Role HE Timeframe Estimated
Cost
advise property owners of rehabilitation assistance that may be available.
The City shall facilitate workshop or public
advertising campaign each year to disseminate
information on available resources targeted to low
and moderate resource areas, as well as areas with
higher concentrations of lower-income
households, including census tracts 321200,
324001, and 325000.
Prepare handout to advertise online
and, if appropriate, mailings to target
areas
Optional: Host a virtual webinar that
describes available funding sources
Note: City will be responsible for any
website / social media postings and
paper mailings and postage
UU. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
The City shall address disparities in housing needs
and access to opportunity for all persons regardless
race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability gender, gender identify, gender expression,
sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, veteran or military status, source of income, and genetic
information as protected categories by the California
Fair Employment and Housing Act (Part 2.8
[commencing with Section 12900] of Division 3 of Title
2), Section 65008, and any other State and Federal
fair housing and planning law.
The City identified barriers to fair housing through the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing analysis. Actions Coordinate an outreach program with
Regional Center of the East Bay to
inform residents of housing and
services available for persons with
developmental disabilities
Prepare materials to post on City
website by 2025
Compile Fair Housing information and
resources for City website and social
media platforms
Prepare and conduct landlord training
on fair housing responsibilities, source
of income discrimination and other
discriminatory practices, and the
Ongoing
Outreach
program by
2025
Accessibility
programs by
2023
$11,000
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
Implementation Program RSG Role HE Timeframe Estimated
Cost
the City will take to address the identified barriers and foster an inclusive community, include:
• Address the need for affordable housing in
higher resource areas: Programs F, I, P, Q, R,
V, Z, and FF
• Protecting existing residents from
displacement: Programs F, I, K, R, FF, KK, LL,
MM, PP, QQ, RR, and SS
• Fair Housing Enforcement and Outreach:
Programs QQ, UU, WW, and VV
To work to address air quality issues in low- and
moderate resource areas (which are generally
concentrated near I-680), the City shall require all
developments within 1,000 feet of a freeway to include
air filtration methods that meet MERV 13 standards or
higher.
Work with the Regional Center of the East Bay to
implement an outreach program informing
residents of the housing and services available for
persons with developmental disabilities. The City
shall make information available on the City
website by 2025, with annual updates as
necessary.
Develop accessibility programs by 2023 to focus on
improving access to housing, public buildings and
benefits of marketing their housing units
to Housing Choice Voucher program
participants
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
Implementation Program RSG Role HE Timeframe Estimated
Cost
facilities, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and
businesses.
Publicize Fair Housing Information, including
information about tenants’ rights, landlord
requirements, recent litigation, and links to fair
housing providers on the City's website, social
media platforms, and through physical
promotional material (e.g., flyers, posters) by
January 2026
Provide annual training for landlords on fair
housing responsibilities, source of income
discrimination and other discriminatory practices,
and the benefits of marketing their housing units
to Housing Choice Voucher program participants
to encourage landlords in high opportunity areas
to register their units with Section 8 providers and
expand housing mobility opportunities throughout
the City
VV. Fair Housing Services
The City shall continue to refer all reports of housing discrimination to the local fair housing-related nonprofit that is funded by the County CDBG program. The City
shall cooperate in local and regional fair housing
outreach efforts and shall provide staff-time, as
necessary, to support the fair housing service
provider(s).
Coordinate with County, ECHO, Bay
Area Legal Aid, and other regional
partners who provide training for
property owners and managers about
fair housing laws
Prepare Pleasant Hill property owner
and manager distribution list
Ongoing $11,000
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
Implementation Program RSG Role HE Timeframe Estimated
Cost
The City shall work with ECHO and the Bay Area
Legal Aid to provide fair housing and tenant/landlord
services, including fair housing counseling and
education and tenant/landlord counseling and
mediation.
The City shall distribute literature identifying fair
housing service provider(s) and documenting available
resources. These materials shall be made available in
City offices and on the City website.
Compile and distribute fair housing information
annually
Support regional agencies to provide training for
property owners and managers to ensure that they
are knowledgeable of the requirements of Federal,
State and local real estate, housing discrimination,
tenant protection, housing inspection, and
community preservation laws; and promote
training of tenants in the requirements of Federal,
State, and local laws so that they are aware of their
rights and obligations
Support regional agencies to annually conduct one
workshop with targeted populations to allow for
meaningful discussions and dissemination of
useful information. Education and outreach
activities to be conducted as a multi-media
campaign, including social media such as
Promote regional partner trainings to
Pleasant Hill property owners and
managers
Coordinate with regional agencies to
conduct one virtual or in-person
workshop with targeted populations
Coordinate with staff to analyze
influence changes to programs and
policies as necessary
Note: City will be responsible for
conducting a multi-media campaign on
social media and other forums such as
chat rooms
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
Implementation Program RSG Role HE Timeframe Estimated
Cost
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as other
meeting/discussion forums such as chat rooms
and webinars. Information gathered from these
workshops will be further analyzed by staff and
results will be used to influence changes to
programs and policies as necessary, with any
changes made within one year of the identification
of barriers to fair housing
$30,000
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
STAFFING
This engagement would be led Jim Simon, Principal-in-Charge, and Suzy Kim, Director. Mr.
Simon and Ms. Kim have intimate knowledge of Pleasant Hill by partnering with the City on affordable housing, property disposition, and successor agency activities since 2015. Additional staff may be assigned as needed. Resumes are available on our website at https://rsgsolutions.com/meet-our-team.
FEE ESTIMATE
RSG proposes to provide the tasks described in the Scope of Services on a time-and-materials basis. The estimated fee for all services outlined in this proposal is $30,000. A smaller not-toexceed fee for a term ending June 30, 2026 may be negotiated to work on a smaller list of priority Initiatives selected by the City.
The City may utilize RSG’s existing housing contract or execute a new/amended contract for these services. RSG’s existing contract has an approximate balance of $33,000. Current tasks include advising on miscellaneous housing items as needed, coordinating with SAHA and Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley, preparing the housing successor annual report, and compliance monitoring. We estimate existing services will utilize approximately $20,000 of the existing budget, possibly more if SAHA secures financing and requires construction loan documents this fiscal year.
RSG would honor the billing rates under our existing contract as follows:
Our fee is based upon an estimate of the number of hours needed for each task. If the Scope of Services is substantially changed in the future, RSG will notify the City and request a fee adjustment. Any revisions to the Scope of Services will be billed on a time-and-materials basis at RSG’s hourly rates. The services would be provided per the terms and conditions of a consulting services agreement by and between the City of Pleasant Hill and RSG.
Principal/Director $ 275
Senior Associate $ 200
Associate $ 185
Senior Analyst $ 150
Analyst $ 135
Research Assistant
Technician
Clerical
$ 125
$ 80
$ 60
Reimbursable
Expenses
Cost plus
10%
Troy Fujimoto, City Planner
CITY OF PLEASANT HILL
September 11, 2024
RSG does not charge clients for travel or mileage (except direct costs related to field work/surveys), parking, standard telephone/fax expenses, general postage, or incidental copies.
However, we do charge for messenger services, overnight shipping/express mail costs, and teleconferencing services. We also charge for copies of reports, documents, notices, and support material in excess of five copies. These costs are charged back at the actual expense plus a 10% surcharge. RSG issues monthly invoices payable upon receipt, unless otherwise agreed upon in advance. Invoices identify tasks completed to date, hours expended, and the hourly rate.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Suzy Kim at 714-316-2116.
Sincerely,
RSG, INC.
Jim Simon
Principal